Eagle Hills Properties

Eagle Hills Properties is a privately held real estate investment and development company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2014 by Emirati businessman Mohamed Alabbar, the company was created to pursue large-scale urban development opportunities in emerging and growth markets. Its business model centers on master-planned destinations that combine housing, hotels, retail, offices, marinas, public spaces, and leisure facilities rather than concentrating only on individual residential buildings. The company operates across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. Its portfolio includes projects in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Croatia, Ethiopia, and Georgia. The projects vary considerably in scale and maturity. Some are completed or operating hospitality and waterfront destinations, while others have been announced, proposed, or remain under development. This international approach has positioned Eagle Hills as a vehicle for exporting Gulf-style destination development into cities and coastal areas undergoing regeneration or tourism expansion. In the United Arab Emirates, Eagle Hills has developed or announced several prominent projects. Ramhan Island in Abu Dhabi is planned as a residential and hospitality destination on a natural offshore island, with homes, a marina, hotels, retail, and other waterfront amenities. The company has also been associated with the Bvlgari Resort & Mansions, Abu Dhabi, a luxury beachfront hospitality and residential development undertaken in partnership with Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts. In Sharjah, Eagle Hills partnered with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority to launch projects including Maryam Island and Kalba Waterfront. Other UAE developments include Fujairah Beach Residence. The company has also built a presence in the wider Arabian Peninsula. In Muscat, Oman, construction began in 2019 on the Mandarin Oriental, Muscat joint development, which opened in 2024. Marassi Al Bahrain is a major urban waterfront destination in Bahrain, combining residential property, shopping, hotels, and leisure facilities. Eagle Hills' Jordanian portfolio has included Saraya Aqaba, Al Raha Village, St. Regis Residences, and The Skyline Residences. In Central and Eastern Europe, the company has been involved in some of the region's most visible large-scale regeneration proposals. Belgrade Waterfront in Serbia is a major mixed-use development along the Sava River, combining residential buildings with public infrastructure and commercial uses. The project attracted criticism over its planning process, secrecy, and limited public participation, followed by protests in Belgrade. Eagle Hills has also been linked to a marina-based development in Durrës, Albania, a riverfront redevelopment in Riga, Latvia, and proposed urban projects in Croatia. In Ethiopia, the company announced a redevelopment centered on Addis Ababa's historic La Gare railway station. Eagle Hills' growth strategy has also generated political controversy. A proposed project in Budapest, Hungary, described by critics as a large-scale luxury development or a “mini-Dubai,” was cancelled in 2025 after opposition from the city's council. The dispute focused on the project's reported scale, land-transfer arrangements, public consultation, affordable housing, and the amount of green space. In Serbia, a separate proposed Trump-branded tower development in Belgrade involving Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners prompted local protests in 2025 and was associated with legislation intended to accelerate the project. Overall, Eagle Hills is positioned as a destination developer whose projects seek to integrate real estate, hospitality, retail, leisure, and infrastructure into recognizable urban or resort districts. Its portfolio reflects the opportunities and tensions associated with large private developments: they can attract investment, tourism, and new amenities, but may also raise questions about transparency, land use, public participation, affordability, and the balance between luxury development and broader civic needs.

Eagle Hills Properties was founded in the United Arab Emirates in 2014 by Mohamed Alabbar, who serves as its chairman. The company was formed to develop large, integrated real estate destinations in markets where urban growth, tourism, and regeneration could support new residential and commercial districts. From the beginning, its approach emphasized scale and combination: projects could include residences, hotels, retail, marinas, leisure facilities, and public infrastructure within a single master plan. The company's early international profile developed through partnerships and destination-led projects. In 2018, Eagle Hills worked with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority on three developments in Sharjah, including Maryam Island and Kalba Waterfront. These projects extended the company's UAE portfolio beyond Abu Dhabi and demonstrated its focus on waterfront and mixed-use environments. In the same year, Eagle Hills announced a redevelopment project around Addis Ababa's historic La Gare railway station in Ethiopia, adding an urban-regeneration component to its activities. Eagle Hills subsequently expanded across the Arabian Peninsula. Its projects in Bahrain included Marassi Al Bahrain, an urban waterfront destination combining housing, hotels, retail, and leisure. In Oman, the company began construction in October 2019 on a joint development in Muscat branded Mandarin Oriental, Muscat. The hospitality project opened in 2024. In Jordan, the company was associated with projects including Saraya Aqaba, Al Raha Village, St. Regis Residences, and The Skyline Residences. The United Arab Emirates remained an important base for the company's luxury and waterfront development activity. Ramhan Island, unveiled in 2023, is planned on a natural offshore island in Abu Dhabi and includes residential units, hospitality uses, a marina, retail, and other amenities. Eagle Hills also announced the Bvlgari Resort & Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts. Other UAE projects include Maryam Island and Fujairah Beach Residence. Eagle Hills also pursued projects in Central and Eastern Europe. Belgrade Waterfront in Serbia became one of its most visible developments. Located along the Sava River, the project combines residential buildings with commercial and public infrastructure. Its planning and implementation generated substantial controversy, with critics objecting to the secrecy surrounding the project, the limited role given to public participation, and the perceived prioritization of luxury construction over affordable housing and open space. Protests followed in Belgrade. The company was also associated with a marina-based mixed-use development in Durrës, Albania, the Riga Waterfront project in Latvia, and proposed urban regeneration projects in Croatia. In Georgia, Eagle Hills announced plans in 2025 for investments in Tbilisi Waterfront and Gonio Yachts & Marina. The company has therefore developed a portfolio spanning coastal resorts, capital-city waterfronts, historic-site redevelopment, and large residential districts. Political and civic disputes have accompanied some of the company's largest proposals. In Budapest, a proposed development in the northeastern part of the city was cancelled in 2025 after opposition from the city council. The project was criticized as a luxury-oriented “mini-Dubai” and for reported concerns involving a major land transaction, public consultation, green space, and affordable housing. In Serbia, a separate proposal for a Trump-branded tower in Belgrade involving Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners led to protests in 2025 and was connected with a special law intended to expedite the project. Eagle Hills remains an active private developer. Its history reflects the opportunities available to Gulf-based real estate groups pursuing international expansion, while also illustrating the governance and planning challenges that can arise when very large, privately led developments intersect with historic urban areas, public land, housing needs, and local democratic processes.

• 2025

  Budapest proposal cancelled

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  A proposed Eagle Hills development in Budapest was cancelled following opposition from the city's council.

• 2025

  Georgian projects announced

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  Eagle Hills announced planned investments involving Tbilisi Waterfront and Gonio Yachts & Marina.

• 2024

  Mandarin Oriental, Muscat opens

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  The Muscat hospitality development associated with Eagle Hills opened to guests.

• 2023

  Ramhan Island and Bvlgari Abu Dhabi announced

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  The company unveiled Ramhan Island and announced the Bvlgari Resort & Mansions, Abu Dhabi.

• 2019

  Mandarin Oriental, Muscat construction starts

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the Muscat joint development later opened as Mandarin Oriental, Muscat.

• 2018

  Sharjah partnership and La Gare announcement

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  Eagle Hills partnered with Shurooq on Sharjah projects and announced a redevelopment centered on Addis Ababa's historic La Gare station.

• 2015

  Belgrade Waterfront construction begins

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the first residential building in the Belgrade Waterfront development along the Sava River.

• 2014

  Eagle Hills founded

  [1]Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org

  Mohamed Alabbar established Eagle Hills Properties in the United Arab Emirates as an international real estate investment and development company.

A privately held destination developer specializing in large, mixed-use waterfront, hospitality, residential, and urban-regeneration projects in emerging international markets.

• Waterfront mixed-use development · 2023

  Ramhan Island

  A large-scale Abu Dhabi development planned on a natural offshore island. The project combines residential properties with hospitality, a marina, retail, and waterfront leisure uses, reflecting Eagle Hills' destination-development model.

• Luxury hospitality and branded residences · 2023

  Bvlgari Resort & Mansions, Abu Dhabi

  A beachfront luxury hospitality and residential project announced by Eagle Hills in partnership with Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts. It is intended to combine a branded resort experience with high-end residences in Abu Dhabi.

• Urban regeneration and mixed-use development · 2015

  Belgrade Waterfront

  A major development along Belgrade's Sava River featuring residential buildings, commercial uses, and public infrastructure. The project is one of Eagle Hills' most prominent European developments and has also been the subject of criticism over planning transparency and public participation.

• Waterfront urban development

  Marassi Al Bahrain

  An urban waterfront destination in Bahrain incorporating residences, retail, hotels, and leisure amenities. It illustrates Eagle Hills' focus on integrated districts rather than standalone buildings.

• Luxury hotel development · 2024

  Mandarin Oriental, Muscat

  A joint development in Oman's capital branded under Mandarin Oriental. Construction began in 2019 and the hospitality property opened in 2024.

• Waterfront mixed-use development · 2018

  Maryam Island

  A Sharjah waterfront project developed through Eagle Hills' partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority. It forms part of the company's UAE portfolio of residential, retail, hospitality, and leisure destinations.

• Riverfront urban development

  Riga Waterfront

  A proposed riverfront project in central Riga designed to combine residential, retail, and public spaces within a broader urban redevelopment setting.

• Waterfront and marina developments · 2025

  Tbilisi Waterfront and Gonio Yachts & Marina

  Two Georgian projects announced by Eagle Hills in 2025, representing planned investment in a riverfront destination in Tbilisi and a yacht-and-marina development in Gonio.

• 2025

  Budapest “mini-Dubai” proposal cancelled

  A proposed Eagle Hills development in northeast Budapest was cancelled after city-council opposition. Critics objected to the reported scale and luxury orientation of the project, as well as concerns about a land deal, public consultation, affordable housing, and green space.

  Source

• 2025

  Trump Tower Belgrade controversy

  A proposed Trump-branded tower in Belgrade involving Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners became the focus of local protests. The proposal was also linked to legislation intended to speed its approval, raising further concerns about planning procedure and public oversight.

  Source

• 2015

  Belgrade Waterfront transparency and participation controversy

  Belgrade Waterfront attracted criticism because opponents said the project had been planned with insufficient transparency and limited public participation. Protests followed, with critics also questioning the balance between luxury development, public infrastructure, housing, and civic space.

  Source

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• 2025

  Cancel the Budapest development proposalOther

  Background

  The proposed northeast Budapest project faced strong opposition from the city council over its reported scale, luxury orientation, land arrangements, housing implications, and green-space impact.

  Action taken

  The proposed Eagle Hills project was cancelled after the council opposed it.

  Aftermath

  The cancellation became a prominent example of the political and civic resistance that can accompany very large private urban developments.

  Source

• 2023

  Launch Abu Dhabi island and branded-resort projectsProduct launch

  Background

  Eagle Hills continued to emphasize premium waterfront and hospitality-led destinations in its home market.

  Action taken

  The company unveiled Ramhan Island and announced the Bvlgari Resort & Mansions, Abu Dhabi.

  Aftermath

  The announcements expanded the company's Abu Dhabi pipeline into luxury residential, marina, and branded-hospitality segments.

  Source

• 2018

  Expand through a Sharjah public-sector partnershipStrategy

  Background

  Eagle Hills sought to extend its UAE development activity beyond Abu Dhabi through collaboration with Sharjah's investment and development authority.

  Action taken

  The company partnered with Shurooq on projects including Maryam Island and Kalba Waterfront.

  Aftermath

  The partnership broadened Eagle Hills' UAE portfolio and reinforced its focus on waterfront and mixed-use destinations.

  Source

• 2014

  Adopt an international destination-development strategyStrategy

  Background

  Eagle Hills was created to pursue large-scale real estate opportunities in emerging markets rather than limiting activity to a single national property market.

  Action taken

  The company organized its business around master-planned communities combining residential, hospitality, retail, leisure, and infrastructure components.

  Aftermath

  This strategy produced a geographically diverse portfolio spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.

  Source

1. 1Eagle Hills Propertiesen.wikipedia.org